Sheku Kanneh-Mason makes an outstanding Enescu Festival debut

Sheku Kanneh-Mason

Cristian Mandeal and the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra

By Edward Sava-Segal, 20 September 2023

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“from sombre contemplation to frantic frenzy, imbued with a profound depth of expression”

Reviewed at Palace Hall (Sala Palatului), Bucharest on 19 September 2023

Kodály, Dances of Galánta

Shostakovich, Cello Concerto no. 1 in E flat major, Op.107

Enescu, Symphony no. 2 in A major, Op.17

Brahms, Hungarian Dance no. 1 in G minor

Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra

Cristian Mandeal, Conductor

Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Cello

Argerich and Dutoit demonstrate that vitality is ageless

Edward Sava-Segal, 18th September

Martha Argerich returns to the Enescu Festival for one of the pillars of her repertory, Prokofiev's Third Piano Concerto, in a buoyant performance.

***11

A radiant Werther in Budapest

Orsolya Gyárfás, 22nd February

In their role debuts, Tassis Christoyannis and Véronique Gens make for an incredible pair in this concert performance of Massenet's opera.

****1

Awesome grandeur: Berlioz’ Grand Messe des morts at Müpa Budapest

Orsolya Gyárfás, 1st November

Massed Hungarian forces impress in a monumental performance of Berlioz' grand work under Howard Williams' baton.

****1

Bartók battles his inner demons and stars in his own Budapest ballet

Mark Pullinger, 26th May

Tamás Juronics choreographs the Concerto for Orchestra as a biographical ballet depicting a fragile Béla Bartók rising from his hospital bed.

****1

The ultimate love story: Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde in Budapest

Alexander Hall, 16th June

As part of the annual Wagner festival in the Hungarian capital, Peter Seiffert and Allison Oakes star as the doomed lovers.

****1

Sensational Hungarian double bill at Müpa

David Smythe, 10th February

In a sensational Hungarian double bill of taut psychological drama at Müpa, Péter Eötvös' Senza sangue proves a thrilling partner to Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle.

*****

More reviews...

Edward Sava-Segal

Edward has been living in New York for the last 25 years, one of the reasons being the extraordinarily rich cultural life in this city. He has studied piano and classical music in his early years. He switched later on to computer science and data architecture but he kept an unwavering interest in following the classical music phenomenon here in New York and in his travels. Edward occasionally reviews fine arts events for the most prestigious literary magazine in Romania, his home country.